Lou: 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


PRICE  25  CENTS. 


4ti 


A  ROMANCE, 


MAIKOIK  LoriSK  COLLET 


\N>l..\Ti;i>  KKuM  THK  KHKNC11. 

By  C.  A.  ZIMMERMAN, 
Fonwrly  Ciijitnin  in  tlio  Itoyjil  Swcilislj  .s^r, 


San  Jrann'sro  -. 
rrnT,isin:i)  n\  THK  TRANSLATOR. 

3864. 


ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


A  ROMANCE, 

BY 

MADAME  LOUISE  COLLET, 

TRANSLATED  FI?OM  THE  FRENCH, 
By  C.  A.  ZIMMERMAN, 

Formerly  Cuptaiu  in  the  lloyul  Swedish  Service. 


San  jfrancteca: 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  TRANSLATOR. 

^864. 


TO. 


n  x~ 

vkb 


Emigrants  from  sweet  home,  far  away  in  a 

foreign  country,  not  knowing  the  prevailing 

language,  often  find  themselves  in  an  incon- 

"    vcnient  position,  which  limits  the  chances  for 

^ro    every  kind  of  improvement.       In  earning  a 

fa     mediocre  living,  they  feel  like  an  amphibious 

-    animal,  cut  off  from  its  proper  element.     It  is 

a  poor  remedy,  also,  for  strange  opinions,  if 

,,,    met  with,  and  for  a  certain  opinionative  con- 

'    trariety  from  persons  of  simplicity  rather  than 

U|  mediocrity,  who  find  a  delight  in  idle  stories 

22  and  falsehood,   priding   themselves   on   their 

>T  fancied  superiority,  or  judging  as  the  blind 

jJS  about  color ;  or  as  quacks,  who  put  on  airs  of 

•3  skill,  and  blunder  at  will.    Again,  it  prevents 

a=  social  intercourse  for  a  civilized  mind — unfor- 

•*C 

•&  tunate  predicament,  as  for  one  deaf  and  dumb. 

Thus    to   an  equal   affliction,  are   hearing 

ears  and  •&  tongue  which  easily  speaks  several 

languages,  but  not  the  prevailing  one,  exposed. 

Different  tongues  abound  in  California — 

the  rendezvous  of  all  nations — as  a  kind  of 


comfort,  but  which  retards  the  acquirement 
of  the  English  language. 

Translating  into  and  from  the  language 
mentioned  offers,  finally,  a  fair  incentive  for 
improvement,  preceded  sometimes  by  frequent 
occurrences  of  shabby  effusions  of  naughti- 
ness meriting  little  or  no  attention. 

This  translation  I  undertook  for  the  sake 
of  improvement,  and  now  humbly  offer  it  to 
your  kind  acceptance.  I,  however,  trust  to 
derive  from  the  sale  of  some  hundred  copies 
of  this  book  sufficient  to  remunerate  ine  for 
cost  of  printing,  mental  labor  and  loss  of  time  ; 
and  it  will  prompt  me  to  efforts  to  do  better 
in  the  next,  as  this  Essay  may  prove  premature 
as  to  completeness  and  regularity  of  idioms. 

Of  course,  should  this  my  translation  pay, 
it  will  immediately  be  continued — 

With  fiction,  concern  of  conviction, 
Tradition,  with  more  in  addition ; 
Allusion,  diffusion,  conclusion, 
Effection,  with  strict  predilection. 

C.  A.  Z, 


il  Jhum* 


CHAPTER  I.       - 

ONE  night  I  went  to  the  reception  of  the 
Princess  St.  Ellias,  and  reached  there  just  in 
the  midst  of  a  waltz.  The  Princess's  daugh- 
ter waltzed  with  a  man  of  about  30  years  of 
age,  whose  appearance  struck  one  with  hor- 
ror, like  the  sudden  view  of  an  apparition. 

To  the  mistress  of  the  house,  who  just  ap- 
proached, I  exclaimed : 

"  Princess,  who  is  that  partner  of  your 
daughter  ?  How  strange  is  his  paleness  !" 

"So  it  is,  indeed,"  replied  the  Princess, 
smiling.  "He  looks  like  a  phantom,  and  has 
narrowly  escaped  from  death.  Did  you  ever 
hear  of  the  Garibaldian  General  Dunn,  who 
was  an  English  volunteer  ?  He  was  assasin- 
ated  somewhere  in  Naples,  three  months  ago. 
His  wound  proved  nearly  fatal.  The  mur- 
derer fled,  and  his  crime  was  considered  as  a 
political  revenge1.  The  poor  General  is  hard- 


ly  well,  and  up  again  but  a  few  days.  I 
have  reproached  him  for  dancing,  particularly 
for  waltzing.  Look  at  his  face,  how  livid  it 
is  !  He  frequently  places  his  hand  on  his 
side,  as  though  he  felt  that  the  wound  would 
re-open,  or  to  testify  the  excess  of  pain. 
Knowing  that  you  would  come  to-night,  he 
wished  to  be  introduced  to  you." 

The  waltz  ceased,  and  the  General  came 
directly  to  us.  The  Princess  introduced  us 
to  each  other. 

"  Will  Madame  be  pleased  to  accept  my 
arm  ?  Then,"  continued  he,  "  let  us  pass 
into  another  apartment,  that  we  may  be  less 
disturbed  in  our  conversation." 

He  conducted  me  to  an  oval-shaped  room 
adorned  by  family  portraits,  and  on  partitions 
of  rosewood  a  rare  collection  from  the  old 
Saxon — shepherds  and  shepherdesses,  heroes 
and  heroines,  amours  and  satyrs,  replaced  in 
life  by  these  figures. 

"  What  an  assembly  for  the  eighteenth 
century!"  I  said.  "I  really  do  not  know 
any  more  where  I  am,  when  I  do  not  breathe 


the  same  air  with  her.  In  her  absence  I 
am  lost." 

"  Of  whom  do  you  speak  ?"  said  I,  regard- 
ing him  with  some  surprise. 

"  I  speak  of  her  whom  I  love,  for  whom  I 
was  assassinated." 

"  Is  she  pretty  ?"  I  asked. 

"  "Tis  always  the  first  question  of  women. 
She  is  beautiful — as  sprightliness  compared 
with  decrepitude ;  as  composed  resignation  in 
spite  of  tyranny ;  as  artlessness  is  preferable 
to  fraud !" 

"  Charms  by  the  contrast,"  said  I ;  "  but 
for  what  purpose  these  extremities  ?" 

"An  old  man,"  he  said;  "and  she  is  about 
twenty-five  :  he  is  sixty  !" 

*'  You  remind  me  of  some  poetical  effusions 
of  my  own — 

'  One  wife  with  a  husband  old, 

Don't  from  lovers  young  catch  cold.'  " 

**  I  am  in  the  prime  of  life."  He  said  this 
with  the  same  ingenuousness  with  which  he 
named  her,  and  asked  if  I  was  acquainted 
with  her. 


8 

"  I  know  only  her  name  and  her  family." 
"Well,  'tis  necessary  that  you  should  see 
each  other,"  continued  he.     "  Used  as  you 
are  in  your  books  of  expressing  ardent  love, 
you  would  easily  discover  if  I  am  loved." 

"  But,"  replied  I,  with  a  smile  :  "I  know 
nothing  about  her — her  views  of  life,  her 
convictions ;  and  don't  you  think  she  would 
be  about  correct  in  disapproving  such  kind 
of  confidence  ?" 

"  Oh,  you  refuse  to  hear  me — to  save  me," 
murmured  he,  .with  great  emotion.  He  said 
this  with  such  an  accent  of  sincerity,  that 
rather  inspired  pity,  notwithstanding  his 
strangeness  of  manner. 

"  You  do  love  her  tenderly  r"  I  asked. 
"  I  ought,"  resumed  he,  "  to  relate  to  you 
hoAV  I  made  her  acquaintance,  how  I  fell  in 
love  with  her,  to  show  you  clearly  how  it  is 
fatal,  irrevocable,  and  traced  as  by  fate. 
It  was  one  night  in  St.  Carlos,  the  early 
part  of  October,  four  months  ago,"  continued 
he,  with  downcast  eyes,  as  if  retrospecting 
correctly  the  whole  matter.  "  It  was  in  the 


theatre.      I   was  with  other  Garibaldian  of- 
ficers, conversing  gaily.     Suddenly  I  saw  her 
in  a  box,  sitting  on  the  front  seat.     Her  neck 
somewhat  long,  balanced  flexibly  over  a  white 
opera  cloak.     She  looked  over  to  us.     Her 
large  rritld  eyes  wore  an  expression  of  annoy- 
ance and  weariness.    Her  smooth,  equal,  and 
white  teeth,  were  visible  through  a  beautiful 
large  mouth,   which  seemed    to   be   smiling 
sadly.     Visibly  she  appealed  to  me,  and  in- 
stantly my   heart   responded   to   her's.     In- 
stantly,  also,    I    looked    for    some   one   who 
knew  her,  and  was   immediately  introduced 
to  her.     With  her  I  found  an  old  man  with 
a   hypocritical   physiognomy.      He  was  her 
husband  !     In  a  convent  she  was  educated, 
and  just  came  therefrom  and  was  married  to 
him.     He  follows  her  all  over,  as  a  shadow 
which  obscures  her,  as  a  calamity  that  fades 
her.    He  tries  to  render  her  superstitious  and 
gluttonous,  to  stupify  her.     They  have  one 
sickly  child,  which  she  idolizes,  and  which 
resembles  its  father.     This  ought  to  restrain 
me  from  her ;  but  there  is  something  about 


10 

her  which  attracts,  fascinates,  and  enchains 
me.  From  the  first  sight,  I  lived  but  for  her. 
I  became  her  second  shadow, — young,  ener- 
getic, passionate, — an  opposing,  sprightly  in- 
fluence to  that  morbid,  profane  old  man.  I 
was  conducted  to  her  by  one  of  her  relatives, 
who  displeased  me,  but  with  whom  I  became 
intimate — of  course,  my  object  being  to  hear 
of  her  always  and  to  speak  of  her.  The  hus- 
band, acting  as  a  spy,  made  it  impossible  for 
me  to  explain  what  she  inspired  me  with  ; — 
only  my  troubled  looks,  and  that  electricity 
Avhich  extricates  itself  at  every  emotion  when 
we  love,  expressed  it  to  her.  I  felt  that  she 
understood  me,  that  she  felt  the  same  magical 
shock  which  penetrated  me.  No  doubt  about 
it  that  her  husband  understood  me,  also,  very 
well ;  and  triumphantly  and  smartly,  in  my 
presence,  he  conducted  himself  with  vulgar 
familiarity,  towards  her  whom  I  would  have 
carried  above  the  skies.  He  acted  thus  in 
order  to  show  his  superior  claims.  I  felt 
tempted  to  crush  that  silent  witness  of  my 
love,  like  a  cardhousc. 


11 

Every  night  I  went  from  her  I  thought  it 
rather  prudent  not  to  return  again  ;  of  course, 
thinking  that  she  could  not  have  a  spark  of 
soul,  allowing  that  sepulchre  to  be  at  the  side 
of  her  sprightlincss,  and  I  inwardly  cursed 
her  on  meeting  her  at  the  theatre  adorned 
and  smiling.  When  she  came  in  her  coach 
promenading,  I  despised  her.  I  tried  to  look 
on  other  ladies,  and  but  beheld  herself.  All 
others  seemed  to  me  without  charms,  although 
some  were  really  more  beautiful.  Her  rela- 
tive rarely  left  me,  making  himself  my  para- 
site. He  breakfasted  every  day  with  me, 
and  borrowed  money  of  me,  disgusting  all 
my  ideas  of  a  gentleman.  I  would,  however, 
have  sacrificed  my  best  friend  for  him,  because 
he  spoke  with  me  about  her  ;  he  assured  me 
that  she  was  sad ;  that  he  had  surprised  her 
in  tears.  When  I  hesitated  to  visit  her,  it 
was  he  who  urged  me  to  return.  Her  husband 
received  me  obsequiously.  He  expressed  to 
me  his  hatred  in  this  way.  When  my  looks, 
and  the  accents  of  my  voice  irritated  him,  he 
kissed  his  wife  passionately,  with  expressions 


12 

of  trivial  intimacy.  Then,  fully  terrified,  she 
turned  upon  me  her  submissive  eyes,  silently 
demanding  pardon  for  being  at  the  mercy 
of  this  man.  I  then  left  without  ceremony, 
closing  the  door  in  a  gust  of  passion.  Follies 
of  that  kind,  denoting  my  love,  were  repeated 
over  and  over.  When  once  departing  from 
her  residence,  I  was  overtaken  or  met  by  an 
assassin.  The  scoundrel  was  dressed  in  a 
Garibaldian  volunteer  uniform,  and  with  a 
knife  he  stabbed  me  in  the  right  side.  He 
fled,  crossing  the  narrow  and  winding  streets. 
Passers-by  assembled  themselves  around  me. 
My  blood  flowed  in  torrents.  My  wound  was 
considered  fatal.  It  was  to  her  I  was  carried. 
When  re-opening  my  eyes,  I  saw  her  sitting 
near  my  bed,  weeping,  motionless  and  pale. 
Her  husband  sustained  me  in  his  arms,  say- 
ing: 'Courage!  the  wound  is  not  dangerous. 
It  was  undoubtedly  a  political  revenge.'  " 


13 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  I  DO  not  know  an  enemy,"  murmured  I. 

"  The  criminal  is  pursued,"  replied  he. 
"  Inevitably  he  will  before  long  be  caught, 
and  the  truth  will  be  developed ;"  but  he 
said  it  with  a  sinister  smile,  which  compelled 
me  to  believe  that  he  had  hired,  or  was  him- 
self, the  assassin,  I  thought  so  from  that 
very  moment,  and  think  so  still. 

Neither  the  author  nor  the  executor  of  the 

deed  could  be  discovered. 

• 

For  her  sake  I  would  not  investigate  the 
matter. 

She  attended  me  most  assiduously,  Uut 
always  in  presence  of  her  husband  and  an  old 
female  relative,  named  Nina,  Notwithstand- 
ing, one  night,  Nina  being  outside  the  room, 
and  our  jailor  conducted  one  of  my  friends  to 
another  room,  she  was  alone  with  me.  I 
pulled  off  the  dressing  from  my  wound,  and 
seizing  her  adored  head,  kissed  it,  exclaim- 


14 

ing:  "Now,  let  me  die!"  Her  dress  -was 
covered  with  my  blood.  She  screamed  un- 
warrantably, and  her  husband  rushed  in.  I 
was  again  put  to  bed,  fainting,  and  she  at- 
tended me  with  still  greater  assiduity  and 
forbearance. 

When  Nina  was  present  in  the  room,  she- 
was  always  kept  busy  with  some  kind  of  toys. 
One  morning  was  placed  on  her  neck  a  red 
sling,  embroidered  by  her  mistress,  who  then 


"  Cara  Nina,  look  how  it  becomes  you  !" 

She  immediately  seized  my  hand,  placed 
on  my  finger  a  gold  ring,  and  said,  hurriedly  : 

"  'Tis  blessed  ;  —  it  brings  good  luck  to 
you  !  " 

1Vina  approached  my  bed.  Mad  with  joy, 
I  kissed  her,  exclaiming  : 

"  Mia,  mia  Cara,  how  young  you  look 
to-day  !" 

After  this  she  took  a  fancy  to  me.  She 
assisted  carefully,  also,  in  my  sick  fancies, 
as  she  called  them,  when  I  sometimes  would 
have  a  book,  sometimes  a  flower,  or  in  the 


15 

meantime  a  drink,  but  prepared  by  herself. 
Notwithstanding  the  difficulties  in  my  way, 
I  found  opportunities  of  private  and  undis- 
turbed conversation  with  her  mistress,  where 
I  unfolded  to  her  the  feelings  of  my  heart.  I 
spoke  then  with  great  animation  to  her,  who, 
by  the  dqpree  of  fate,  was  opposed  to  me. 

"  You  will  quit  this  house  to  follow  me. 
You  will  leave  that  old  man,  and  love  me. 
He  has  disgraced  your  sprightly  loveliness. 
I  would  make  it  revive  and  flourish  again. 
You  would  emerge  from  the  tomb  into  life. 
You  would  divorce  yourself  from  the  sepul- 
chre. I  name  you  iny  wife  before  the  eyes 
of  the  world.  Let  us  go  as  for  instance,  to 
Scotland,  there  inhabit  a  castle  belonging  to 
my  sister,  and — and — how  happy  we  will 
fee  !  " 

She  was  deeply  grieved  at  my  addressing 
her  in  this  manner,  but  turned  a  deaf  ear  to 
my  entreaties.  I  was  a  Protestant — she  a 
strict  Roman  Catholic  ;  and  she  felt  that  to 
follow  such  counsel,  would  be  a  great  sin. 
She  was  filled  with  sorrow,  and  presenting 


16 

me  an  image  of  Madonna,  commended  me  to 
her  protection. 

"I  pray  ardently  for  you.  Let  my  soul 
alone  under  her  safeguard.  And  my  dear 
child,  my  dear  child,  how  could  I  aban- 
don it  ? " 

"  We  wiH  take  it  with  us.  It  is  your  off- 
spring— I  love  it,  and  will  be  to  it  a  father."" 

Notwithstanding  her  opposition  to  my  pro- 
posal, a  gleam  of  hope,  although  vainly  kin- 
dled, influenced  me.  She  remained  inexo- 
rable, and,  after  all,  avowed  that  she  would 
soon  be  mother  to  another  child. 

Oh  !  a  child  of  that  man — of  my  assassin  ! 
Do  you  perceive  my  horror  ?  It  ought  to  in- 
spire me  Avitb  hatred.  Far  from  it  t  I  loved 
her  still,  and  her  alone,  with  unabated  des%- 
poration.  What  mysteries  in  love  !  What  fur= 
H'ihire  of  pride  ! 

Notwithstanding  all,  what  inexpressible 
happy  hours  I  had  in  her  house,  inhabiting  it 
under  the  same  roof  with  her  !  But  my  con- 
valescence approached,  my  chances  to  sec  her 
grew  less,  and  at  last  ceased.  In  despair  I 


17 

removed  to  my  own  residence.  Her  husband 
came  every  day  to  inform  himself  about  my 
health.  He  was  more  and  more  unaffected 
and  complaisant.  He  dreaded  almost  my  sus- 
picions. His  hospitality  made  me  his  friend. 
I  felt  obliged  to  him  visibly,  without  mistake. 
His  family  assisted  him. 

The  aged  Nina  sometimes  visited  me.  One 
mild  sunny  afternoon,  where  I  lived,  the  car- 
riages filled  up  the  landing-place  with  echoing 
noises.  The  door  of  my  room  opened,  and 
Nina  entered  with  her  mistress,  whose  pre- 
sence seemed  to  fill  my  chamber  with  a  blaze 
of  light.  The  latter  seated  herself  in  an  arm- 
chair near  my  bed. 

"  I  am  out,"  she  said,  "  taking  exercise, 
and  to  know  something  of  your  health,"  she 
added,  with  particular  cheerfulness. 

'I  would  not  troublo  her  with  interrogato- 
ries, but  observed  that  she  had  grown  more 
pale  and  thinner  than  before.  I  took  it  for 
a  satisfactory  proof,  that  she  longed  after  me. 
Nina  called  her  away  in  a  few  moments. 

On  the  following  day  I  went  out  in  quest 


18 

of  her,  and  although  I  sought  her  in  many 
places,  it  was  without  success.  As  often  as 
she  went  to  the  theatre  I  was  informed  of  it. 
I  entered  then  in  her  box,  where  her  husband 
received  me  tolerably  well,  or  without  mur- 
mur. I  hardly  took  notice  of  him,  consider- 
ing him  no  more  than  a  statue  in  a  parlor. 
His  dear  wife  was  dear  to  me  also.  I  placed 
myself  behind  her  chair.  Now  and  then  I 
pressed  her  arm  secretly  but  with  ardent 
vigor,  almost  sufficient  to  make  her  scream, 
and  leaning  towards  her,  I  murmured  In  a 
low  tone: 

"  You  ought  to  love  me." 

The  old  man' jeered  behind  us,  notwith- 
standing he  had  some  reason  for  it.  I  turned 
myself  in  a  menacing  manner  from  him,  scat- 
ing  myself  at  his  lady's  side,  ruffling  her  dress 
with  my  knees.  I  said  : 

"  My  wound  pains  me  to-night  more  insup- 
portably  than  ever  before,  and  I  feel  tempted 
to  require  an  inquest  for  discovering  the  mal- 
efactor." 

These  words  had  the  effect  to  hit  the  nail 


19 

on  the  head,  as  to  force  a  tyrant  to  behave. 
He  trembled  before  me,  and  became  humble 
and  submissive.  I  proved  it  the  other  night 
at  San  Carlos  Theatre,  and  I  sent  him  out  to 
purchase  me  a  newspaper  !  " 

Terrified,  she  said  :  "  You  are  very  incon- 
siderate. Will  you  provoke  him  to  kill  me 
when  we  return  home  ?" 

I  gave  her  eight  days  to  choose  between 
the  culprit's  dying  condition  and  my  sword, 
which  shall  defend  her.  She  hesitates :  ad- 
vise her — advise  me  !  I  reckon  on  you. 

In  saying  this,  the  General  took  my  hand 
and  squeezed  it,  in  the  English  manner. 

I  had  heard  his  recital  without  interrup- 
tion at  the  allegro  of  the  piano  and  its  tune- 
ful, merry  waltzes,  and  amidst  the  clattering 
clank  of  spoons,  cups  and  dishes,  used  by  the 
partakers  of  coffee  and  tea  and  their  servants. 
Speaking  thus  with  me,  nothing  but  his  love 
of  her  seemed  to  occupy  his  thoughts,,  forget- 
ting passers-by,  of  dancers  with  surprised 
looks  at  seeing  me  for  one  full  hour  sitting  at 
his  side,  silent,  and  listening  to  him  with  the 


20 

most  patient  attention,  as  if  witnessing  a 
deeply  interesting  theatrical  representation, 
performed  by  himself,  his  own  dramatical 
story,  with  glistening  eyes,  and  with  that 
abundance  of  language  which  passion  of  love 
produces. 

After  he  was  through,  I  still  remained 
silent.  Suddenly,  with  a  polite  unconcern, 
he  addressed  me : 

"  Pardon,  Madam,  for  having  fatigued  you 
so  long." 

"  You  have,  on  "the  contrary,  highly  inter- 
ested me,  as  every  thing  which  is  sincere  and 
artless,  gladdens  me  in  this  world,  where  the 
truth  is  sliut  out :  but,  what  can  I  do  ?" 

"  Thus  you  refuse  to  see  her,  to  recognise 
and  persuade  her  !  Then  I  am  deceived  !  I 
thought  you  better  understood  what  love  was. 


21 


CHAPTER   III. 

"  I  CONFESS  plainly,  General,  that  you  ex- 
pect me  to  accomplish  an  impossibility ;  be- 
cause it  belongs  neither  to  me  nor  to  any  one 
to  tell  a  wife — a  mother — -to  tear  in  pieces  all 
the  ties  which  her  feelings  keep  holy ;  and  it 
were  as  superfluous,  or  useless,  as  if  the  pas- 
sion of  love  was  the  strongest  which  would 
stand  trying,  notwithstanding,  by  any  shift- 
ing motive  matters  could  counterbalance  its 
weight.  The  woman  who  loves  thus  will 
decide  for  herself,  and  repulse  another  wo- 
man's intervention  in  the  horrid  mystery  of 
her  heart." 

"What!  do  you  refuse  to  make  her  ac- 
quaintance ?"  he  asked. 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  long  with  curiosity  to 
meet  her  accidentally,  and  to  speak  with  her 
about  you.  I  would  easily  and  unmistakeably 
discover  if  you  are  loved." 


He  reflected  upon  this  for  a  moment,  and 
then  said : 

"  I  will  have  her  to  come  along — you  will 
see  that."  • 

"  I  prefer  to  meet  her  by  chance,  as, 
for  instance,  Avith  some  of  her  relatives,"  I 
replied. 

"  It  will  cause  too  great  delay.  Before 
eight  days  the  unraveling  conclusion — the 
irrevocable  catastrophe  of  the  play,  will  be 
required.  Within  eight  days,  if  you  see  her 
not,  I  will  give  a  festival  as  for  celebrating 
my  recovery,  and  you  will  then  see  her." 

"  But  will  she  come  to  you  publicly,  Gen- 
eral ?  I  don't  believe  it." 

"  She  will,  by  magnetism — her  husband, 
by  terror — and  the  rest  of  her  respectable 
family  for  the  savor  of  the  supper." 

I  commenced  to  laugh. 

"  Don't  trifle  with  me,"  exclaimed  he,  in 
an  irritated  tone. 

"  I  laugh  only  over  her  illustrious  rela- 
tives' accessory  puffing  matters  in  the  drama, 
ridiculed  by  yourself." 


23 

"  'Tis  true,"  he  said,  "if  love  did  not  ren- 
der me  less^  cunning,  it  would  be  more  matter 
for  an  epigram  in  this  story." 

"  Think  on  the  ridiculous  side,  and  between 
now  and  eight  days  don't  commit  any  more 
nonsense  !" 

"  On  condition  that  you  allow  me  to  see 
you  in  the  meantime,  and  to  speak  with  me 
about  her." 

"  As  you  please." 

"Very  well:  you  are  very  kind,  and  some- 
thing assures  me  that  I  will  have  to  thank 
you  for  my  life  and  for  her  love." 

Several  young  ladies  surrounded  us.  Their 
faces  were  flushed  with  surprise  that  this 
beautiful  and  heroic  General  had  occupied 
himself  so  long  with  a  lady  who  did  not 
dance.  I  went  away.  The  General  offered 
me  his  arm,  and  insisted  upon  conducting  me 
to  my  residence. 

„     "  Don't   refuse   me,"   said   he  :    "  'tis  for 
speaking  about  her." 

On  the  way,  he  related  to  me  a  kind  of 


24 

programme,  as  solemn  as  an  oath,  which  he 
intended  to  perform.  / 

"  In  eight  days  I  leave  Naples  with  or 
without  her,"  he  said.  "  She  will  not  believe 
in  the  departure.  I  am  just  as  dear  to  her  as 
she  is  to  me.  When  I  am  no  more  present, 
her  youth  will  pass  void  and  cold,  as  her  old 
sepulchre.  My  passion  for  her  is  the  air  she 
lives  on,  the  spirit  which  animates  her.  She 
desires  to  immolate  me  for  ever  to  her  will ; 
but,  seeing  me  resolved  to  start  away,  she 
follows  me.  'Tis  just  what  I  always  tell  her 
when  we  meet,  and  in  the  mornings  by  letter, 
usually  disposed  of  for  her  in  the  church  at 
the  foot  of  the  image  of  Madonna,  wrapped 
up  in  a  nosegay." 

"  This  way  of  corresponding  makes  me 
laugh,"  I  answered. 

He  said  :   "In  my  letter  of  to-night  I  will 
beg  her  to  see   you,  and  you  will   sec  that 
she  comes  ;  because,  between  her  and  me  ia4* 
an  electrical  current." 

"Is  it  to  be  sure  that  she  really  loves  you 
as  much  as  you  are  inclined  to  believe  ?"  I 


25 

interrupted  him.  "  Only  just  like  all  the 
men's  presumption,  which  consists  of  self- 
interest.  You  are  not  very  well  initiated  in 
that  mysterious  feeling  of  a  wife,  a  mother. 
As  for  the  former,  it  would  not  suit  your 
programme,  neither  that  confidence  for  urging 
her,  with  which  you  will  intrust  me.  As  for 
the  mother,  that  child  she  carries  struggles 
against  you  forcefully.  If  that  child  belonged 
to  you,  she  would  be  your  slave  ;  but  an- 
other's child  is  her  master,  and  triumphs  over 
you." 

"  'Tis  true,"  murmured  he,  dropping  his 
head  in  his  hands,  showing  the  greatest  emo- 
tion. 

Seeing  him  so  much  overcome,  almost  unto 
tears,  in  the  eyes  of  predominating  bright- 
ness, the  bravest  amongst  the  brave  Garibal- 
dians  ; — seeing  him  so  utterly  disconsolate 
through  love — himself,  who  was  so  distin- 
guished for  gallantry  as  to  reach  the  height  of 
a  general's  degree,  caused  a  melancholy  emo- 
tion as  to  contradict  human  greatness.  This 
unexpected  epoch  of  a  romance,  and  such  a 


.      26 

subject  of  an  epic  poem  from  the  Italian  new- 
born, fresh  independence,  triumphed  over  the 
exasperated,  despotic  power,  which  the  Paris- 
ian life  had  traced  in  my  memory. 

As  we  separated  at  the  door  of  the  hotel, 
the  General  said  to  me  : 

"To-morrow,  I  know  it,  I  will  feel  badly. 
Let  me  see  you  every  day — treat  me  as  a 
sister  would  do." 

On  the  following  day,  about  two  o'clock, 
there  entered  into  my  room  a  haughty  young 
man,  with  black  hair,  and  with  features  of 
the  purest  Greek  mould.  Dressed  in  a  red 
shirt,  he  carried  a  long  sword  in  his  belt. 
He  was  the  chamber-servant  of  the  General. 
The  domestics  of  the  English  aristocracy  are 
usually  distinguished  for  beauty,  as  horses 
are  by  the  breed.  The  General  has  chosen 
amongst  the  prettiest  volunteers  an  intelligent 
Vcnitian,  making  him  at  once  servant  and 
confidant.  His  brown  face,  expressive  and 
merry,  contrasted  in  a  striking  manner  with 
that  of  his  master.  A  sculptor  would  have 
preferred  him  as  a  perfect  type  of  the  south, 


27 

the  latter's  head  as  a  middling  imitation 
of  the  northern  type.  The  radical  Venitian 
gave  me  a  small  letter  from  the  General. 

"  The  fever  kept  him  in  bed,"  wrote  he, 
"  but  he  would  come  to  see  me  about  five 
o'clock,  nevertheless." 

"  La  sua  Eccellenza  sta  poco  bene,"  added 
the  domestic,  as  a  kind  of  commentary. 

"  Questo  povero  Signore  a  del  settentrione  e 
non  sa  como  sefa  Vamore  nel  mezzogiorno." 

This  reflection  seemed  to  me  very  pleasant, 
and  I  repeated  it,  smiling,  when  the  General, 
pale  as  a  spectre,  entered. 

"  Giovanni  is  right,"  he  said.  "  I  don't  know 
what  the  Italians  mean  with  love.  I  ought 
to  know  it,  indeed,  because  I  am  very  well 
acquainted  with  Byron's  work.  Their  devo- 
tion misleads  me,  and  in  the  first  instance  I 
take  it  for  mysteriousness.  The  mysteries 
are  ethereal  north-flowers.  The  Spanish  and 
Italian  devotion  is  savory  fruit,  which  thrives 
best,  or  only,  in  full  sunshine.  I  believe  if  I 
clothed  it  in  the  habit  of  a  monk,  and  spoke 


28 

about  love  in  form  of  confession,  its  heart 
would  easily  submit." 

"  Behold  a  rapture  of  irony,"  replied  I, 
"  which  comes  better  to  you  than  something 
similar  with  shedding  tears,  as  happened  yes- 
terday ! " 

"  Do  you  believe  me  to  be  restored  to 
health  again  at  last  r"  said  he,  with  some 
indignation.  "  I  wish  it  now  more  than 
ever.  I  come  from  her.  I  have  had  a  chance 
to  see  her,  and  to  speak  about  you.  You 
will  soon  see  her  yourself.  Perhaps  she  will 
enter  before  I  am  off.  You  will  testify  that 
she  kills  me,  if  she  does  not  promise  me  to 
come  alone.  Again,  I  am  certain  that  she 
has  already  started  on  the  way  to  you.  I  hear 
footsteps  in  the  corridor.  "Tis  she  !" 

He  opened  the  door,  and  hit  against  a  tall 
chambermaid,  who  brought  a  lady's  dress. 

"  Ain't  I  crazy  !"  said  he,  throwing  him- 
self in  an  armchair.  "  My  letters  also  to  her, 
all  of  them,  are  filled  with  extravagancies.  I 
write  in  French,  of  course,  as  I  understand  it 
better  than  the  Italian.  But  still,  I  do  not 


29 

find  the  natural  and  righteous  form  of  that 
•which  overflows  from  my  heart.  To  be  sure 
I  express  myself  in  a  ridiculous  style.  Oh, 

if  you  would  be  pleased you  would,  or 

how ?      You  know  how   to  render  the 

cases  in  a  book.  Declamation  and  emphasis 
would  not  be  profaned.  Let  me  read  my 
letter  for  you.  You  will  please  correct  the 
false  expressions.  Perhaps  I  wound  her  feel- 
ings with  unfitting  words,  contrary  to  my  in- 
tention. Behold  the  pages  which  I  have 
written,  to  place  in  her  hand  this  night  at 
the  theatre.  Consent  to  read,  and  to  correct 
them. 

That  idea  led  unconditionally  to  laughter, 
but  he  expressed  it  with  ardor  and  ingenuity. 
It  was  really  impossible  to  satirize  about  it. 
What  a  matter  at  once  of  greatness  and  pue- 
rility ! 


30 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  General  was  through  with  his  love 
letter,  inconsistent  and  feverish  as  it  was — 
where  prayer  and  adoration  were  mingled 
with  menace  and  anger. 

"  But  don't  change  anything  in  it,"  I  said. 
"  The  agonies  of  the  heart  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  syntax." 

He  left  me  to  go  to  San  Carlos,  rejoicing  in 
the  hope  that  his  passion,  in  an  unaltered 
shape,  would  pass  into  the  soul  of  her,  whom 
he  loved  so  dearly.  Coming  to  my  house 
the  following  day,  he  asked  if  she  had  been 
there. 

"  Forget  the  dream  for  ever  of  that  meet- 
ing, and  believe  me.  Leave  Naples  the  very 
first  day  you  can  fix  therefor.  Go  to  Gaeta. 
The  bombardment  of  this  place  has  com- 
menced. The  great  play  on  the  scene  of 
war  would  distress  your  intervals  of  child- 


31 

ish  love,  and  anyhow  be  of  more  glory  for 
a  General." 

"  Oh,  you  don't  say  so  !  Thus  do  you 
speak.  Have  you  ever  loved  ?  I  would  pre- 
fer death  on  the  battle  field,  if  she  rejects 
me,  but  far  away  in  India  or  China.  I  will 
leave  for  ever  the  Italian  earth  where  I  first 
met  her.  In  the  meantime  I  will  prepare  the 
festival  of  farewell,  or,  perhaps,  of  my  be- 
trothal. Of  course,  you  will  see  that  she  fol- 
lows me." 

I  had  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  Princess  of  Mor- 
ra.  He  followed  me  to  her,  and  engaged  her 
for  his  soiree.  She  accepted  his  invitation 
for  herself  and  spouse.  The  Princess  Ellias 
has  consented,  also,  to  honor  the  feast  of  one 
of  Naples'  liberators.  Doubtless,  the  high- 
est circles  and  principal  dignitaries  will  meet 
there.  Thither  mothers  will  conduct  their 
daughters,  under  a  wavering  hope  of  inflicting 
rosy  chains,  or,  perhaps,  Hymen's  tie  on  a 
chief  of  volunteers.  To  suit  a  castle  in  the 
air,  imagination  surpasses  reality,  to  capture 


32 

as  a  dear  prisoner  the  person  of  this  beauti- 
ful and  romantic  English  hero.  His  love 
story  was  spoken  of  as  an  adventure  of  an 
ephemeral  kind.  He  was  a  subject  of  dignity, 
attracting  tender,  or  selfish  inclination  ;  also, 
perhaps,  as  for  one  very  exception  from  this 
rule,  excepting  itself  for  a  longer  show  of 
sympathy,  which  contradicted  holier  ties — as, 
for  instance,  the  case  of  his  own  dear  in- 
clination. 

"Indeed,  you 'know,"  he  said,  "that  I 
care  only  for  her.  The  feast  is  for  her,  and 
for  yourself.  You  will  find  out  if  I  have  any- 
thing to  hope." 

Listening  to  him,  I  remembered  some 
comedies  of  the  old  Corneille,  where  was 
given  serenades  on  inland  waters,  called 
"  Media  Nocha,"  for  his  mistresses,  with  a 
prodigality  without  limits,  which  offered 
there,  also,  splendid  effects.  As  that  mag- 
nificent chevalier  from  an  old  century,  made 
a  show  of  Neapolitan  extravagance,  so,  now, 
did  the  General,  and  thought  of  nothing  but 


33 

his  love.  My  curiosity  was  kept  in  suspense 
a  whole  week  by  that  little  drama,  the  de- 
velopment of  which  approached, 

"  The  heroine  will  appear,"  the  General 
said,  "  surrounded  by  her  numerous  family. 
She  comes  as  Clarissa  Harlowe,  encircled  by 
her  relatives  like  a  rampart." 

At  length  the  night  of  the  ball  arrived. 
At  nine  o'clock,  in  company  with  the  Prin- 
cess Morra,  we  went  to  the  English  hotel, 
where  the  General  resided.  The  most  ele- 
gant saloons  on  the  first  floor  were  brilliantly 
illuminated,  brighter  than  the  sunshine  on 
this  beautiful  day  of  the  feast.  Statues,  gar- 
landed with  flowers,  decorated  the  stairs. 
The  beautiful  Giovanni,  in  full  dress,  in 
preparation  to  offer  to  every  lady,  bouquets, 
of  which  he  had  a  basket  full.  Some  old 
men  were  already  formed,  or  forming  them- 
selves, about  four  for  each  table,  for  playing 
cards,  in  the  first  room.  I  looked  about 
among  them  to  ascertain  if  the  husband  was 
there,  and  if  I  could  divine  who  he  was. 


34 

The  Princess  St.  Ellias,  a  talented  dancer, 
was  already  in  her  element  to  attract  admi- 
rers in  another  large  saloon,  where  quad- 
rilles were  forming.  The  young  girls  danced 
with  a  guiltless  animation,  with  a  pleasing 
attraction,  ignoring  the  wild  and  passionated 
atmosphere  which  surrounded  them.  They 
chatted  in  a  lively  manner^with  their  partners, 
young  officers  of  the  regular  and  Garibal- 
dian  armies. 

The  General,  standing  in  front  of  the  chim- 
ney, with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  door  through 
which  the  guests  arrived,  had  a  dreamy  ap- 
pearance. His  noble  face  was  paler  than 
usual,  contrasting  with  his  black  coat,  which 
was  closely  buttoned.  He  came  to  me. 

"  She  comes  not  at  all,  or  she  delays  only 
too  long,"  he  said,  forgetting  all  except  her. 
"  Be  pleased  to  accept  my  arm — I  have 
another  request  to  make  of  you." 

Thus  speaking,  he  conducted  me  to  the 
refreshment  saloon.  Already  four  men  were 
sitting  at  a  table  eating.  I  called  the  Gen- 


35 

eraTs  attention  to  them,  and  said,  laugh- 
ing : 

"  Behold  those  guests,  in  a  great  hurry  to 
supi" 

"  They  are  two  uncles  and  two  cousins  of 
hers,"  replied  he,  "  who  doubtless  have  not 
dined." 

*'  'Tis  insupportable  for  a -lover  of  good 
standing  to  see  the  woman  whom  he  loves  in 
vulgar  mediocrity.  He  would  surround  her 
with  poetry  and  magnificence,  isolate  her 
image,  and  destroy  the  frame  if  it  were  not 
in  harmony  with  his  idolatry." 

"  She  is  a  flower  amongst  nettles,"  replied 
he :  "  when  I  get  her  to  live  in  an  atmosphere 
worthy  of  her,  she  will  be  still  more  beauti- 
ful. You  sec  those  two  empty  chairs,"  added 
he,  advancing  from  the  door  of  the  dancing 
saloon.  "  May  I  request  you  to  be  seated  on 
one  of  them  ?  please  conceal  the  other,  or  in 
some  way  reserve  it  for  her.  I  will  conduct 
her  to  you.  You  will  talk  to  her." 

"  But  not  about  the  programme,  for  GOD'S 


36 

sake,  General,"  replied  I,  "  or  absolutely  I 
will  say  nothing." 

I  felt  his  arm  trembling  within  mine  own, 
and  his  whole  frame  shaken  with  a  nervous 
trepidation,  and  as  if  he  would  faint.  He 
withdrew  his  arm  briskly  from  mine,  leaving 
me  alone.  He  went  to  meet  a  lady  who  had 
just  entered.  It  was  she !  I  divined  her 
from  her  husband,  whom  I  knew  by  descrip- 
tion. His  affected  smile  exhibited,  on  open- 
ing the  lips,  a  large,  cavernous  mouth.  He 
threw  a  rapid  look  about  on  the  assistance  to 
coxmt  on  at  need,  and  having  recognized 
several  of  his  friends,  he  seemed  reassured, 
turned  around  to  a  gambling  saloon,  and  sat 
down  at  a  whist  table.  The  old  Nina,  in  a 
showy  gown  embroidered  with  red  and  gold, 
as  an  attentive  duenna,  followed  her  noble 
mistress,  who  walked  straight  towards  me, 
conducted  by  the  General.  She  was  a  tall, 
graceful  person,  with  a  noble  air.  Her  well- 
formed  neck  was  surrounded  with  a  set  of 
pearls  of  which,  the  clasp,  of  diamonds,  was 


37 

the  only  radiant  lustre  coming  from  her.  Her 
cheeks  not  very  full,  her  mouth  large,  with 
beautiful  teeth,  but  without  a  smile  ;  her  eyes 
pretty,  mild,  rather  dimmed  by  annoyance ; 
her  forehead  with  a  tint  of  weariness,  re- 
vealed an  habitual  decay,  a  helpless  torpor. 
The  contact  of  an  old  man  had  imprinted  a 
sickly  look  on  her  young  face.  Animated 
and  happy,  this  woman  would  be  attractive. 
Burdened  with  the  weight  of  a  hopeless  life, 
with  terror  for  love,  rather  than  inclined  for 
its  charm,  she  had  a  grave  physiognomy,  which 
chilled  me.  She  seated  herself,  apparently 
exhausted,  in  the  chair  next  my  own.  The 
General  introduced  us  to  each  other,  and 
then,  with  a  suppliant  look  to  me,  deter- 
mined, he  offered  his  arm  to  Nina,  to  conduct 
her  to  the  refreshment  saloon,  or  somewhere 
from  us. 

I  did  not  know  how  to  address  that  motion- 
less person,  whose  troubled  destiny  did  not 
diminish  in  any  way,  neither  by  compassion, 
nor  by  sympathy — rather  bent  under  the 

302053 


38 

yoke,  than  convinced  by  duty.  I  was  still 
thinking  of  a  proper  mode  to  do  it,  when  the 
General  returned.  He  leaned  himself  towards 
her  and,  in  passing,  whispered  something  to 
her,  I  could  not  hear,  and  then  placed  him- 
self at  some  distance,  in  a  good  position  to 
observe  us.  Without  looking  at  me,  she 
said,  suddenly  : 

"  Madam  writes  romances  ?  " 

She  pronounced  these  sentiments  in  a  sar- 
castic tone,  as  ladies  of  the  aristocracy  usual- 
ly do  to  female  writers. 

"Yes,  madam,"  I  replied,  laughingly,  "to 
write  romances  distracts,  if  it  does  nothing 
else,  and  does  not  inspire  more." 

"  The  real  life  does  not  produce  all  the 
events  which  a  love-tale  represents,"  she  re- 
plied, hesitatingly. 

"It  produces  more  romantic,  more  terrible, 
and  more  candid  effects,"  replied  I.  "I  assure 
you  that  poets  and  romance  writers  often  are 
forced  in  writing  them  rather  to  restrain  than 
exaggerate  the  living  dramas.." 


39 

"  That  is  what  I  never  thought  of." 

"It  is,  nevertheless,  perfectly  true.  It  is 
the  reality  which  feeds  the  imagination — the 
every-day  life  which  supplies  us  with  mate- 
rial for  our  fictions." 

"  I  believe,  rather,  that  romance  writers 
bestow  success  to  their  heroes  just  as  they 
please,"  replied  she,  harshly. 

"  That  is  to  say,"  replied  I,  in  the  same 
way,  "that  they  divine  the  full  truth  beneath 
the  transient  show." 

Thus  I  continued,  determined  to  unmask 
her  dissimulation.  It  is  sufficient  for  any 
observer,  who  has  known  or  analyzed  love, 
to  regard  the  General  for  comprehending  by 
the  exultation  of  his  countenance,  that  he  is 
a  prey  to  a  violent  passion. 

"  He  suffers  much  from  his  wound,"  re- 
plied she,  tranquilly.  "  The  blood  which  he 
has  lost,  has  emptied  his  brain,  and  filled  it 
with  phantoms.  A  sick  man,  excited  by  the 
fever,  fancies  there  are  crimes,  where  there 
is  nothing  but  honor.  Being  a  subject  for 


40 

the  pity  which  his  condition  inspires,  he 
dreams  impossibilities." 

She  decided  herself  for  allusion.  I  did 
so,  too. 

"It  is  a  real  misejy  that  which  you  treat 
only  as  a  dream,"  said  I.  "  The  General 
speaks  of  dying  from  excess  of  suffering." 

"If  he  thought  really  of  dying,  he  would 
die  without  talking  about  it,"  she  replied, 
coolly. 


41 


CHAPTER  V. 

I  DON'T  know  whether  the  General  had 
divined  these  last  words,  but  he  lanced  on 
her  a  look  full  of  anger.  He  came  to  us  as 
soon  as  the  music  played  the  introduction  of 
a  waltz. 

"  It  is  myself  who  waltzes  with  you  now," 
he  said. 

She  arose  as  if  yielding  to  an  electrical 
power.  He  took  her  in  his  arms,  and  whirl- 
ed her  round  with  a  convulsive  rapidity.  I 
divined  the  vehemence  of  his  words.  He 
sought,  by  violence  and  tenderness,  and  by 
that  extraordinary  effort  of  trained  applica- 
tion, under  the  influence  of  the  intoxicating 
waltz,  to  entice  a  promise  from  her.  Expos- 
ed to  his  daring  will  and  desire  for  a  crisis, 
which  depended  upon  something  unforeseen, 
she  was  almost  at  his  mercy,  when,  suddenly 
mastering  herself,  she  stopped  on  the  spot, 


42 

distinctly  ^pulsing  his  efforts  with  complete 
self-control. 

"  Oh,  you  are  crazy,"  she  said,  disengaging 
herself,  and  then  took  a  seat  by  my  side. 

"  Have  you  children,  madam,"  she  asked 
me,  in  a  calm  tone. 

On  my  replying  that  I  had  a  daughter,  she 
exclaimed — 

"  How  much  we  love  them,  even  when 
they  are  small !-:— what  sweetness,  what  real- 
ity, and  what  truth  every  moment  in  their 
caresses  !  I  have  one  child  who  is  beautiful, 
and  will  soon  have  another.  They  will  smile 
at  and  play  with  each  other,  and  speak  and 
quarrel  with  each  other.  I  will  place  them 
on  their  father's  knee,  because  he  is  good, 
and  mild — and  much  I  love  him,"  added  she, 
with  a  resolution  in  her  tone,  surpassing  that 
sentiment  which  it  only  needed  for  safe-keep- 
ing in  her  duty. 

After  these  words  she  arose,  and  went  to 
converse  with  a  young  lady  of  her  family. 

The  General  approached  me,  hastily. 


43 

"  Well,  he  inquired,  what  is  there  to  hope 
for?" 

"  Nothing,  General,"  replied  I. 

It  was  against  my  feelings  to  repeat  the 
words  we  had  exchanged.  This  woman  did 
not  interest  me  as  for  herself  personally,  but 
she  touched  me  as  mothor — as  victim  for 
many  constraints  of  sufferings,  common  to 
women.  I  identified  myself  with  tortures  of 
her  heart  more,  perhaps,  than  she  felt.  In 
this  moment  it  seemed  to  me  that  the  two 
men,  who  pondered  upon  her  fate  were 
equally  hateful :  the  one  for  that  sadness  he 
had  occasioned  her,  and  the  other  for  that 
mortal  trouble  which  he  had  heaped  upon 
her. 

Seeing  her  walking,  pale  and  decaying,  I 
said  to  myself,  "  Her  maternity  may  kill 
her,"  and  I  felt  for  her  an  affectionate  re- 
spect and  sympathetic  pity. 

The  General  insisted,  finally  : 

"  What  did  she  say  ?  " 

"  She   refused    to   speak   with   me   about 


44 

you,"  I  said :    "  she  is  tranquil,  and  calm    as 
one  of  your  inland  waters  in  Scotland." 

He  approached  the  orchestra,  Avhich  pre- 
luded a  quadrille.  He  gave  some  orders,  re- 
peating prestissimo.  The  tune  of  a  rapid 
waltz  resounded  immediately,  and  some  deter- 
mined waltzers  of  both  sexes  cried,  "  Bravo  ! " 
and  fell  in  rank  immediately.  In  his  arm  he 
seized  her,  over  whom  he  magnetically  pre- 
tended to  domineer.  To  my  great  surprise 
she  opposed  no  more  resistance  than  the  first 
time.  Reanimated,  energetic,  and  resolved 
for  an  act  of  stunning  by  another  enthusiasm, 
she  left  herself  to  the  ravishing  giddiness  of 
that  .waltz .  The  instrument's  furiosa  com- 
municated itself  to  the  palpitating  bodies. 
With  a  kind  of  bashful  temerity  he  touched, 
with  a  somewhat  convulsive  pressure  of  the 
hand,  the  naked  shoulder,*  and  that  more 


*  Madame  Collet  is  rather  too  exact  in  approxi- 
mating the  limits  of  liccntia  poetica.  I  undertook 
this  translation  at  all  hazards  before  I  knew  any 


45 

clastic  part  of  the  snowy  neck,  of  that  happy 
woman,  who,  blushing  and  kindled  by  an  in- 
ward flame,  appeared  to  me,  at  once,  really 
beautiful. 

The  waltz  ceased.  He  conducted  her  to  a 
seat  on  a  canopy  at  some  distance  from  me. 
After  this,  he  came  to  me,  saying : 

*'  I  knew  it  well — she  loves  me.  We  will 
start  together." 

I  did  not  answer  him.  He  seemed  certain 
of  his  influence.  I  knew  that  he  deceived 
himself.  He  took  an  ephemeral  sensation  for 
a  fixed  resolution.  It  was  clear  he  was  dear 
to  that  woman ;  but  one  resolution,  based  on 
conjugal  duty  as  wife  and  mother,  opposed 
him.  A  fantastical  episode  fortified,  sudden- 
ly, her  resistance. 

Some  rumors  were  afloat  in    Naples,  some 

thing  about  this  illustrated  underbred  liberty.  It 
is  always  unpleasant  to  have  to  blush  over  an  in- 
delicate or  rough  expression,  whether  uttered  by 
ourselves  or  others ;  and  it  is  matter  of  regret  that  a 
faithful  rendering  of  the  original  has,  in  this  case, 
made  it  necessary. 


46 

time  since,  about  a  somnambulist  which 
manifested  oracles.  It  was  believed  in  dif- 
ferent ways — partly  as  an  act  of  the  Saint 
Januarius,  sake  of  faith,  for  some — as  a  mys- 
tification by  others,  and  as  a  curious  and  at- 
tractive performance,  for  all.  The  General 
had  the  idea  to  offer  us  that  treat  amongst 
all  the  other  kinds  of  his  hospitality.  He  al- 
lowed to  come  into  the  middle  of  the  saloon 
a  small  woman  of  dark  complexion,  of  coarse 
countenance,  her  hair  rough-casted.  Some 
few  strokes  with  some  one's  hand  were  suffi- 
cient to  put  her  to  sleep.  She  was  placed, 
or  rather  extended,  on  a  canopy,  and  all 
formed  a  circle  around  her.  The  General's 
heroine  had  retaken  that  inexpressive  indiffer- 
ence, rather  inclined  for  condemnation  in  ad- 
vance. Her  husband  was  behind  and  leaning 
towards  her.  Near  at  hand  was  Nina,  who, 
also,  rather  piqued,  repeated  over  and  over, 
"  Questo  e  stupendo !  " 

The    somnambulist    shook    as  a  sorceress. 
Some  women  seized  one  of  her  hands,  which 


47 

hung  motionless,  and  interrogated  her.  She 
replied,  correctly,  to  every  question.  One 
Garibaldian  officer  said  to  the  General : 

"  Ask  her,  who  was  your  assassin  ?  " 

The  General  seized  with  his  finger  the 
grasp  of  the  somnambulist,  and  addressed, 
mechanically,  questions  of  which  the  mean- 
ing was  double. 

"Do  you  know  of  what  I  am  suffering?" 

"  You  suffer  partly  by  the  heart,  and  by  a 
wound  hardly  or  badly  cured." 

No  doubt,  fearing  a  public  demonstration 
of  his  love,  the  General  insisted  upon  the  ob- 
ject concerning  his  wound. 

"  Can  you  see  the  malefactor  who  stabbed 
me  ?  "  asked  he. 

*'  I  see  him.  He  was  armed  with  a  knife, 
and  wore  a  red  shirt." 

"  The  whole  of  Naples  knows  that,"  ex- 
claimed one  of  the  assistants. 

"Can  you  see  who  armed  this  culprit  ?'» 
continued  the  General. 

"  Stop,"  replied   she.      "  It  seems   to   me 


48 

that  I  can  distinguish  the  instigator  of  the 
crime.  He  approaches  :  I  see  him  !" 

At  these  words  I  heard  some  one,  not  far 
from  me,  say : 

"•It  is  infamous,  endeavoring,  publicly,  to 
dishonor  us  1" 

It  was  the  heroine  herself,  trembling,  be- 
wildered, and  almost  ready  to  faint.  The 
husband  sneered,  being  livid,  but  composed. 

The  General,  fascinated,  credulously  con- 
tinued : 

"  Well,  what  motive  had  this  man  ?'* 


49 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  oracle,  doubtless,  would  reply,  either 
by  divination,  laughter,  or,  perhaps,  by  a 
pretended  discovery,  false  or  true.  A  result 
of  a  mysterious  hazard  with  one  blow  would 
throw  suspicion  upon  an  honorable  family, 
and  strike  with  terror,  or  insanity,  that  poor 
mother  and  wife,  whose  tremulous  breathing 
I  heard  at  my  side.  All  my  feelings  of  jus- 
tice and  humanity  rose  in  rebellion  against 
it.  The  romantic  lover,  whose  passion  had 
touched  me,  seemed  to  me  now  rather  an 
egotistical  maniac's  deed,  transforming  at  the 
same  time  cordial  hospitalities  and  co-operat- 
ing in  testifying  complicity  with  the  horrid 
crime  in  question,  and  changing  the  wife's 
seduction  into  cruel  deeds  of  torture.  With- 
out mercy  thus  to  practice  a  man's  natural 
advantage — which  all  of  us  poor  women  have 
suffered,  more  or  less — seemed  to  me  odious. 


50 

This  rapid  Sensation  penetrated  my  mind  like 
lightning. 

I  approached  the  General,  and  disengaging 
his  hand  from  that  of  the  somnambulist,  said 
to  him,  openly  and  laughingly  : 

"What  you  do  now  is  atrocious  and  super- 
stitious. It  is  unworthy  of  a  disciple  of  Bo- 
lingbroke."  I  added,  slowly  :  "  Look,  you 
kill  her,  and  that  destroys  for  ever  her  love." 

He  started  with  juvenile  mobility,  which 
was  one  of  his  charms. 

"  I  will  repair  what  I  have  failed  in," 
murmured  he,  exclaiming  :  "  Madame  is 
right.  That  pretending  clairvoyant  derides 
me  as  if  dealing  with  a  credulous  lazzaron. 
Never  mind  who  stabbed  me,  I  am  well 
again,  and  celebrate  it  this  very  night  with 
all  my  friends." 

After  these  words,  he  went  to  the  old  hus- 
band. 

"  Behold  my  saviour  !"  said  he,  and  shook 
his  hand,.almost  making  him  cry.  After  this 
he  approached  the  young  wife,  who  stood 


51 

immovcable  and  steady,  and  with  downcast 
eyes,  resembling  the  statue  of  resignation. 

I  observed  her,  and  understood  that  some- 
thing dissolved  itself  within  her. — It  was  his 
love.  Some  new  transitory  flashes  could  daz- 
zle her ;  some  puffing  whirlwind  could  attract 
her  attention  ;  but  the  rumbling  noise  of  the 
hurricane  petrified  her.  The  General  spoke 
to  her,  but  in  vain  endeavored  to  attract  her 
regards.  She  ignored  that  he  was  before  her. 
He  emboldened  himself  to  take  her  hands, 
but  she  withdrew  them  as  if  a  viper  had 
touched  her,  and  commenced  to  play  with  a 
garland  of  ambergris  suspended  on  Nina's 
reddish  arm.  The  General  came  to  me  exas- 
perated. The  orchestra  then  commenced  a 
quadrille.  The  old  man,  sitting  at  the  side 
of  his  wife,  rose  and  offered  her  his  arm. 
She  leaned  herself  thereon  in  an  indolent 
way,  and  made  a  round  about  the  room,  sa- 
luting several  persons,  smilingly,  and  started 
away.  The  General  rushed  away  after  her. 
I  left  also  at  the  same  time  the  feast,  which 


52 

no  longer  afforded  any  interest  to  me.  I 
descended  the  stairs — the  General  ascended, 
his  face  radiant  with  joy,  his  eyes  lively  and 
sparkling. 

"  What  has  happened  that  makes  you  so 
happy  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Now,  to  be  sure,  I  am  her  master.  She 
is  under  my  control,  and  every  obstacle  is 
broken,  perforce,  by  love.  I  pressed  her  to 
my  heart  when  assisting  her  into  the  coach, 
and  her  heart  told  me  then,  '  I  will  follow.' 
Now,  how  happy  I  am  !  I  would  make  a 
whole  world  happy,  particularly  you,  Madam. 
I  will  make  my  farewell  visit  to-morrow.  It 
will  be  the  last  day  I  pass  in  Naples." 

What  could  I  say  to  this  blunder  ? 

It  surprised  me  to  see  him,  on  the  follow- 
ing day,  still  joyous,  very  amiable,  and  feeling 
quite  certain  of  that  good  luck  of  which  he 
had  dreamt.  We  passed  almost  the  whole 
day  together.  He  couducted  me,  a  la  prome- 
nade de  la  villa,  where  we  met  several  of  his 
guests  of  the  previous  night.  One  friend  said 
to  him : 


53 

"  The  rumor  circulates  in  Naples  that  it 
was  a  betrothing  ball  you  gave  us." 

"  Certainly,"  he  replied,  his  eyes  sparkling 
with  merriment;  "I  carry  already  the  ring !" 
In  saying  this  he  turned  around  his  finger  the 
blessed  little  ring  which  she  had  given  him. 

He  came  to  me  the  night  I  started  to  make 
a  call  at  Mancini's,  and  said  : 

'*  I  will  go  along  with  you,"  and  followed. 
I  have  read  beautiful  poetry  of  love,  written 
by  Madame  Mancini,  and  I  desire  dearly  to 
make  her  acquaintance." 

"  Dearly,  is  a  very  significant  term  for  a 
heart  so  full  of  another  woman.  Do  you  not 
start  to-morrow  ?" 

"  Oh,  you  don't  believe  it  yet,"  replied  he. 

"  Has  she  written  to  you  ?" 

"  No  ;  and  her  silence  is  the  very  conform- 
ation of  her  promise." 

I  thought  I  was  listening  to  a  fantastically 
dreaming  noctambulo. 

He  Continued :  "  I  bring  to  you  my  souve- 
nir of  parting  to-morrow." 


54 

He  brought  his  portrait  and  a  ring  of  blue 
enamel. 

"  It  is  an  Indian  talisman,"  he  said,  "  be- 
lieve me.  Press  on  that  little  flower  of  pearl 
when  you  need  an  arm  to  defend  you,  or  a 
heart  to  console  you,  and  I  will  appear.  For 
time  to  come  my  soul  is  fastened  to  you  with 
an  indissoluble  bond." 

"  But,  General,"  I  replied,  touched  by  his 
good-natured  generosity,  "  I  have  done  no- 
thing for  you." 

"I  know  better,"  exclaimed  he.  "You 
stopped  me  when  I  was  wounding  her  feel- 
ings by  interrogating  the  somnambulist,  when 
I  was  going  to  lose  her  for  ever.  It  is  only 
through  you  I  could  regain  her.  We  will  talk 
together  about  you  during  the  summers  on 
the  shores  of  our  placid  lakes, — in  the  win- 
ter before  the  crackling  fire  made  of  pine 
branches  from  our  Scotland's  woody  regions. 
She  shall  have  a  life  so  mild  and  beautiful, 
that  she  never  will  tire  of  loving  me.  To- 
morrow, on  board  the  ship,  I  intend  she  shall 


55 

be  treated  as  a  queen.  Giovanni  has  just 
bought  a  Turkish  carpet,  which  he  will 
spread  on  the  deck,  on  which  she  shall  be 
seated.  Candy  and  toys  shall  be  given  to 
her  child,  who  will  enjoy  itself  laughing,  by 
her  side.  I  have  sent  some  money  to  her 
chamber-maid,  that  she  voluntarily  follows 
her  without  hesitating.  They  start  together 
to-morrow,  at  sunrise,  as  if  they  were  going 
to  the  mess.  They  will  go  on  board,  hiding 
themselves  until  we  get  out  in  the  Bay.  I 
have '  here  written  the  last  precautions  for 
them  to  take.  Read,  and  be  convinced." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

I  GLANCED  over  the  letter  he  gave  me, 
where  the  pledges  of  his  love  abounded.  He 
finished  with  a  gloomy  tableau,  representing 
what  would  become  of  that  poor  woman  if  he 
parted  without  her.  "  Oh,  the  long  days  after 
that  vision  of  love  had  vanished !  Her  coarse 
and  narcotic  family,  and  that  hideous  old 
man — my  phantom — always  reminding  her  of 
our  extasies,  our  furtive  transports,  and  the 
lost  happiness  of  our  interviews."  He  con- 
tinued in  that  letter :  "  The  soirees  at  San 
Carlos  would  be  old  funerals.  When  the  door 
opened  to  the  box,  should  your  startled  look 
thither  never  again  behold  me  enter  !  Your 
prayer  to  the  Madonna  seems  to  be  cursing ! 
What  is  it  that  interests  you  instead  of  our 
love  ?  Racked  by  your  solicitude,  one  thought 
above  all  would  kill  you — '  Does  he  live,  and 
where  ?  where  to  be  seen  again  ?  But,  alas, 


57 

it  is-  too  late  !  another  has  taken  my  place  in 
his  heart !'  She  has  all  of  that  love,  whigh  I 
have  let  escape  me.  Oh,  you  could  not  en- 
dure all  this  void  feeling,  all  this  grievous 
disaster !" 

When  I  had  finished  his  letter,  he  sealed 
it,  and  called  Giovanni,  who  waited  his  orders 
in  the  corridor. 

Run  with  my  letter.  Leave  it  to  the  cham- 
ber-maid. She  loves  you  a  little,  I  believe ; 
that  is  so  much  the  better — she  will  not 
betray  us." 

My  laughter  over  all  this  was  difficult  to 
suppress. 

The  General  asked  the  reason. 

"Well,"  I  replied,  I  think  I  am  in  the 
theatre,  and  hear  the  Count  Almaviva  con- 
spire with  Figaro  to  kidnap  Rosina." 

"It  is  all  the  same,"  he  said,  and  made  a 
comical  grimace.  "  In  his  turn  that  jealous 
old  jailer  will  himself  make  a  superb  grimace, 
just  as  did  Lablache  in  the  part  of  Bartolo." 

We  started  for  Mancini's.     When  arrived 


58 

there,  we  found  the  young  mother  surrounded 
by  her  young  offspring,  like  a  brood  in  a 
bird's  nest. 

The  General  was  highly  pleased  with  a 
blond  beauty,  pure  and  calm,  with  a  sprightly 
intelligence. 

"  You  show  me,"  said  he,  with  his  fine 
manner,  "  the  fate  of  Goethe's  Margaretta, 
who  Avas  well  married  and  l«appy." 

Madame  Mancini  conversed  with  him  about 
warriors'  laurels  gained,  and  about  heroes  even 
in  peaceful  times,  unfortunately  being  exposed 
as  victims  to  treacherous  accidents,  just  as  it 
happened  with  himself. 

"  He  is  a  veritable  hero  for  a  romance,"  I 
said,  smiling.  "  He  leaves  us  to-morrow  to 
run  new  risks." 

"  Really  !"  replied  that  amiable  lady,  in  a 
lively  manner ;  "and  as  for  me,  I  offer  you 
all  my  sympathies." 

"I  accept  them,"  replied  he.  "If  I  had 
seen  you  before,  I  would  have  remained  in 
Naples." 


This  new  sensation  puzzled  me. 

"  Behold  the  unfaithful  Almaviva,"  said  I ; 
and  then  we  started. 

"  It  is  that  muse,  under  the  features  of  the 
Madonna,  with  that  firm  and  resolved  regard, 
I  ought  to  love,"  answered  he  seriously. 

"  Oh,  General,  it  may  be  occasionally,  only 
your  mind  is  astray.  She  is  no  object,  in  the 
smallest  way,  for  any  romance  whatever.  It 
is  no  place  for  any  shadow  in  the  radiant  story 
of  this  noble  woman,  or  for  any  woman  even 
half  so  good  as  she  is.  But,  concerning  a 
further  degree,  I  would  not  be  responsible  for 
the  smiling  tempter's  powei*,  because  a  lady 
who  does  not  care  has  the  worst  enemy  in  her 
own  heart.  Imitate  her  husband's  example  ! 
Marry  some  young  lady  in  your  native  land : 
and,  blest  with  many  children,  may  you  live 
there  in  peace." 

"  Me  inclose  my  youth  as  a  quaker  within 
four  walls  !"  exclaimed  he,  quickly  ;  "  you 
forget  that  tumultous  emotion  makes  me  live, 
and  that  felicity  which  awaits  me  to-morrow." 


60 

"  Arc  you  fully  sure  of  that  happiness  r" 

"  Are  you  envious  r" 

"  Really,  my  General,  I  understand  very 
well  the  abrupt  awakening  from  dreams  like 
yours,  and  pity  you." 

He  remained  silent  and  sombre  even  to  the 
hotel.  I  regarded,  AVithout  telling  him,  the 
furious  sea,  and  the  noisy  waves  which  lashed 
the  shore  opposite. 

When  the  coach  stopped  at  my  residence 
he  took  my  hand,  and  said : 

"  The  tempestuous  night  is  full  of  phan- 
toms. Be  charitable  !  Leave  me  not  until 
the  moment  of  my  departure.  Let  us  go  to 
Portici,  Pavzalos,  to  Baya,  or  wherever  you 
please.  It  is  necessary  to  fill  up  the  tedious 
intervals." 

"  My  nights  are  for  sleep,  my  General,"  I 
replied. 

"  Is  that  to  sleep  when  we  too  well  know 
that  we  are  kept  awake,  and  feel  an  unfortu- 
nate palpitating  of  the  heart  ?" 

"  My  heart  palpitates,  but  it  is  caused  by 
emotions  from  others,"  I  remarked. 


61 

"  I  am  of  more  worth  than  you,"  replied 
he,  "  because  I  suffer  from  the  fact  that  we 
shall  never  meet  again." 

"  Farewell,  great  heroic  child !"  said  I, 
squeezing  his  hand.  "  I  will  not  forget  you. 
Oh,  on  the  contrary,  I  will  one  day  or  other 
write  your  history,  as  I  have  witnessed  it.  I* 
regret  that  it  contains  at  least  better  regu- 
larity of  idioms  than  good  luck,  and  leave  to 
others  to  continue  correcting  that  want  of 
improvement  in  the  character  of  some  good 
applications." 

On  the  folloAving  day,  passing  Reviere  de 
Chiya,  with  the  Princess  of  Morra,  we  in- 
quired whether  the  General  had  started. 

"  Si,  Signora,"  said  to  us  a  waiter.  "  Oggi 
el  matino  sopra  il  vapore  Francaise." 

Thus  his  romance  was  closed.  The  catas- 
trophe of  the  play  was  permanent. 

The  tempest  grew  calmer.  The  sea  rolled 
blue  waves  cut  with  blades  of  gold.  I  saw  in 
the  meantime  the  heroine  through  that  lumi- 
nous atmosphere,  sitting  on  the  deck  of  the 


. 

62 

ship  on  a  spread-out  Turkish  carpet.  Her 
child  played  with  that  great  buffoon.  The 
General  laughed  more  happy  than  the  child, 
and.- 1  myself  did  laugh,  sarcastically,  more 
than  either  :  all  right,  because — 

The  same  night  I  visited  San  Carlos.  There 
.was  there  a  small  house.  An  elegant  toilette 
caused  a  sensation.  I  saw  enter  a  box,  and 
take  a  front  seat,  a  lady  dressed  in  red,  and 
crowned  with  flowers.  It  was  she  !  She 
saluted  me  gracefully,  and  affected  to  be  in  a 
good  humor  during  the  whole  play — but  the 
tears  in  the  night,  who  have  seen  them? 


Kecapitulation  of  the  Komance, 

AND   ITS   MORAL  VIEWS. 

" (Dixi  et  Saluavi  Jlnimcum,  Jrfeam." 

For  sake  of  improvement  some  weeks  I've  spent, 
To  unveil  a  middling  French  author's  talent ; 
As  an  echoing  noise  in  the  gold-mine's  vault. 
Spoiling  better  productions  would  be  more  fault. 
In  abundance  puffing  matters  and  main  things, 
Two  Princesses  Queen  of  the  ball,  but  no  Kings  ; 
For  the  rest,  the  following  summary  behold — 
A  young  beaxity  with  an  ugly  tmsband  old  ! 


63 


Imprudence  of  mother  to  her  dear  husband's  child, 

Badly  exposes  for  tenacy  wild. 

Once  shut  up  in  a  convent,  in  the  world  still  a  novice, 

Being  released,  she  submitted  at  any  price 

To  nuptial  feast,  withoxit  hev  love  and  choice ; 

And  her  heart  awoke  at  last  by  Nature's  voice. 

Weary  of  check  by  an  old  man's  preclusive  claim, 

Guiltless  in  fact,  performs  a  libertine's  game. 

Oh,  authoress,  Louise  Collet !  your  great  General 

Was  only  a  rogue,  but  not  a  criminal ; 

He  was  qxiite  unfit  to  profit  by  chance, 

To  captivate  fair  booties  of  elegance. 

A  foreign  patriot — the  Chief  of  Volunteers — 

He  did  not  know  nor  care  for,  as  it  appears. 

The  regular's  regulation  sufficient ; 

With  unperformed  errand,  therefore,  so  he  went. 

The  more  of  smoke,  the  less  of  outbreak  of  flame ; 

But  mortal  trouble,  bad  scrape,  kind  of  ill  fame, 

May  do  for  coquettes  who  would  rack  lover's  brain, 

But  for  a  sensible  woman,  what  shabby  gain  ! 

Again  the  more  tired  once  of  small  error's  sport, 

Improves,  after  all,  matrimony's  comfort ; 

But  error's  the  fault  of  the  whole  hiunan  race, 

Which  we  sooner  or  later  commit,  then  efface. 

A  tyrant's  fine  wife  cannot  feel  satisfied 

With  scolding,  and  abuse,  and  words  impolite. 

A  pleasing,  charming  mind,  is  a  bond  for  fair  play, 

Fully  to  reap  without  constraint  and  delay. 

The  wife,  being  happy,  be  the  husband's  pride, 

His  careful  love  his  preference  will  decide  ; 

Still,  a  lady's  bad  scrape,  and  her  husband's  harm, 

Only  would  contrast  with  a  good  wife's  wit  and  charm. 

For  sake  of  holy  conjugal  happiness, 

Beware  of  being  victims  of  wild  excess ! 

To  unfold  charms  shows  but  a  coquette's  spirit, 

Though  there  is  more  or  less  humbug  about  it. 

The  (jim  and  stars  make  not  any  preference, 

Nor  display,  as  they  seem  to,  some  extra  chance. 


64 


To  mock  and  scorn  is  always  a  breach  of  peace, 
And  corruption  eclipses  the  business  to  please. 
Always  our  business  mind,  our  own  door  sweep — 
The  sequels  by  others'  acts  buy  learning  cheap. 
To  look  at  sequels  will  hflp  one  to  behave — 
For  foul  play,  trouble,  and  sadness  doth  it  save. 
'Tis  only  on  this  rule  no  clause  to  behold, 
That  is  the  very  reason  why it  is  told. 


APPENDIX. 

If  kindly  patronised  in  the  sale  of  this  Book,  I 
would  not  fail  -soon  to  offer  some  more  select  trans- 
lation. In  that  particular  case,  could  I  sell  100,000 
copies  of  it,  I  would  immediately  raise,  instruct,  drill, 
and  offer  to  the  Government,  a  battalion  of  Infantry 
for  approbation,  and  for  effective  service,  which  I 
have  learned  and  since  practised  in  garrison  and 
war,  in  different  parts  of  the  world.  Kegular  duty 
never  neglected.  Extra  opportunities  may  or  may 
not  occur.  A  solaier  lives  but  for  the  day,  and 
exists  always  on  the  bread  of  the  Government.  A 
disinterested  soul  delights  in  acts  of  generosity,  and 
cannot,  therefore,  save  a  fortune.  Passing  through 
good  and  bad  times,  exercises  perseverance.  The 
only  difference  is,  that  the  good  time  completely 
effaces  the  bad,  and  in  every  case  the  good  is  thought 
of.  Should  I  sell  but  50,000  copies,  I  would  still 
carry  out  my  honest  intention  to  the  Government; 
but  should  the  sale  prove  only  insignificant,  say  a 
few  thousands,  I  will  be  obliged  to  seek  a  more  lib- 
eral field  for  better  chances.  C.  A.  Z. 


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